BBC and ITV to trial mobile TV

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The BBC and ITV are understood to be close to be finalising a deal to develop a live TV broadcast service for mobile phones, with a six-month trial of the service planned for later this year.

The trial, believed to be in conjunction with Samsung and LG, will test the viability of the service and will feature the BBC’s News 24 service and an as-yet-unnamed ITV digital channel. If the initial six-month trial is a success, it is likely that the BBC and ITV will expand the service to its other channels. Eurosport and Cartoon Network have also registered interest in the service.

The mobile TV programmes will be broadcast using technology currently used by digital radio. It will be a subscription service provided by mobile phone companies, with a £10 a month fee expected to be the standard charge.

An official annoucement was expectedearly this week, but the BBC has so far declined to comment on the speculation. We’ll keep you posted.